Let the lights go out!

The 2013 FIA Formula 1 season kicks off Down Under this week. A few notes:

This from the 2012 INDYCAR banquet -- the host. NBC was probably happy that he hosted, since he will be a part of NBC's F1 broadcasts. NBC has been showing their F1 preview show for a few days consecutively -- trying to get viewers ready when the lights extinguish for the Rolex Grand Prix Sunday morning.

F1 fans will have to get used to a new broadcast home in the United States, as Comcast (NBC Sports Network) has replaced longtime carrier SPEED.  This weekend begins the first of a four-year deal.  The announced schedule:

1:30 AM ET NBC Sports Network – Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Korean Grand Prix, Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix

2:30 AM ET NBC Sports Network – Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, UBS Chinese Grand Prix

5:00 AM ET NBC Sports Network – Airtel Grand Prix of India

7:30 AM ET NBC Sports Network – Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and all European Rounds EXCEPT those listed under CNBC and NBC Broadcast Network.

7:30 AM ET NBC Broadcast Network – Grand Prix de Monaco.

7:30 AM ET CNBC – Santander British Grand Prix, Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland

11:00 AM ET NBC Broadcast Network -- Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil

1:00 PM ET NBC Broadcast Network Live Onsite – United States Grand Prix

2:00 PM ET NBC Broadcast Network Live Onsite – Grand Prix du Canada  ◙